Portable elevator for loading trucks



Nov. 30, 1948. J. R.'CLARK PORTABLE ELEVATOR FOR LOADING TRUCKS 4 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Jan; 29, 1946 J. R. cLARk PORTABLE ELEVATOR FOR LOADING TRUCKS Nov. 30, 1948.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 29, 1946 $1 has" $12 i .hmma rx Nov; 30,

J. R. CLARK v PORTABLE ELEVATOR FOR LOADING TRUCKS Filed Jan. 29, 1946 :1 MW azmeuzmm Nov. 30, 1948. J. R. CLARK PORTABLE ELEVATOR FOR LOADING TRUCKS 4 Shee ts-Shee Q 4 Filed Jan. 29, 1946 7111.) WY m5 'tion bearings engaging Patented Nov. 30, 1948 arsasso I Pon'rABLE ELEVATOR} roe LOADING 1 TRUC V JamesR. olark, anth ms. Application January 29, 194e, saga No. 644,001.

This invention. relates to a loader and more particularly to a. portable device for loading trucks, railroad cars, etc, or for elevating material during piling thereof. v

The device of the present invention is particularly useful for loading pulpwood logs on trucks and may be attached to the body of a truck so as. to be carried thereby. Logs or similar materials are carriedup an incline" by a conveyor provided with load carrying members and are deposited upon the truck by means of a vertically adjustable pivoted boom over which the conveyor also travels. The loader is also provided with retractable supports so thatit may be opera-ted whilepositioned upon the ground or other supporting surface. The device may then be employed to load/trucks, railroad cars or to elevate material and may be moved from place to place on its own supporting members. The loader carries its own source of power and is preferably made throughout of lightweight metal such as. aluminum alloy except for power driven elements and other elements subjected to wear.

object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved loader for elevating material ontotrucksandthe-like. g

Another object ofthe, inventionis. to provide a power driven loading device which may be attached to atruck and carried thereby while the truck is being loaded. v Another object of the. invention is to provide a leader in which a'conveyor having load carrying members elevates material such as logs and distributes the material upon a truck or the like by the use of avertically adjustable pivoted boom. H g v a. v 7

Another object of the. invention is to provide a portable loading device carrying, its own source of power for elevating. anddistributing material. A further object of the invention is' to provide a lightweight power driven loading. device which may be attached to a truck to be'carried thereby or which may be supported on the ground for loading materials onto trucks cars, etc.

A. still further object of the invention is to provide an. improved" loading device constructed principally of lightweight metal and "provided with a chain conveyor equipped with anti-frictracks of wear resisting metal; A I

Other objects and advantagesolf the invention will appear in the following description of aproferred embodiment thereof "shown in the attached 'd'rawingsof which 2 Claims. (01. res sts) Figure I is. a side elevation of a loading device in, accordance with the present invention;

Figure: 2 is anend elevation of the base frame of the loader ofFigure 1;

Figu're. 3 is a'vi'ew similar to Figure 2 with partsj'broken away'and showing the front skids retracted; 1 I I Figure 4' is a fragmentary vertical section taken onthe lines l-4 of Figure 2;

"Eigure'li is a vertical section taken on the line 5%5' of Figure 1 with the conveyor chains and load [carriers omitted; I ."Figure 6 is a lan View of the device with the conveyor chainsand load carriers omitted;

"Figure '7 is. a front elevation of a load carryi'rigdevice on an enlarged scale showing a portion. ofthe boom structure in vertical section;

Figured is a side elevation of the load carrier' of Figure '7 showing details of the chain conne t r c "Figure 9"is a fragmentary section taken on the line 9+9 of Figure 8';

Figure .110 is a fragmentary side elevation of the conveyor chain showing a portion of the chain connector'mechanism; and 7' v 'fEi'gure' I1 is a side elevation showing the base frame only 'and the manner of attaching the frame tqatruch.

[Referring more particularly to Figure 1 of the drawings, the loader of the present invention includes a base frame Hi preferably built-up of aluminum or aluminum alloy shapes and provided with front and rear retractable skids l6 and I1, respectively; The base frame l4 may have a vertically extending central frame 88 secured thereto, the vertical frame [8 being braced by aninclined frame l9 secured to the base frame 114' by gusset plates 2! and to the top of the vertical fr m rs by gusset plates 22. Avertic'ally adjustable pivoted boom 23 is pivotally secured to the top of the vertical frame 18 and may be provided with supporting members 2 5' having one end" .pivo-tal'ly secured to the boom 23' at 26 and the other end provided with rollers 21 engaging vertical channel members 28 forming the side portions of the vertical frame 18. The free end ,2 of boom Zia rnay be raised or lowered by raising'and l o'wering the lower ends of the supportm em-bers 24 for the boom 23. The raising and lowering mechanism includes cables 3i each Jhavi'ngoneend adju-stably secured to the lower end of asupporting member 2% at 32. The cables re threaded over pulleys 3'3 rotatably secured It w 1, u 'e sidefcliannels 28 of the central frame meniber' and have their other ends secured to drums 36 fixed upon a shaft 37, the drums 36 being manually rotatable as described in more detail below. Rotation of the drums 36 raises and lowers the lower ends of the supporting members 24 for the boom 23 to raise and lower the boom. The free end 29 of the boom can be lowered to a position near the upper level of the base frame I4 and also raised to a position approximately 30 above that shown in Figure 1.

The base frame 14 preferably includes side channel members 38 reinforced adjacent their centers with stiffening plates 39 to provide adequate support for the vertical frame 18. The base frame is widened at its front end by an elongated cross member 4! having its ends reinforced by members 42 to provide a widened support for the front skids l6 and also to make the front end of the frame approximately the same width as a truck body indicated at 42' in Figure ll.- The elements indicated by numeral 42 comprise rearwardly extendingframe elements of a truck. It is usual in operations of the type contemplated to employ a truck having an elongated body portion comprised essentially of two 1ongitudinally extended beam elements (indicated by numeral 12 of Fig. 11) upon which logs or the like are piled transversely. The portion of the truck body shown in Fig. 11 is shown in side elevation and is a portion thereof extending rearwardly of the rear wheels of the truck, thus constituting rearwardly projecting frame portions with no obstructions therebelow. Thus, the front end of the frame [4 may be secured to the truck platform by suitable clamps indicated at 43 in Figure .11. When so clamped to the truck body the base frame portion M will extend rearwardly thereof for a short distance, and the boom of the loader will extend forwardly of the rear end of the truck to carry the logs being loaded to a position above a longitudinally intermediate portion of the truck with the logs already oriented transversely thereof to be lowered to the truck body and to be held thereby. During operation of the loader in the manner described the skids l6 and Il will be retracted whereby the loader will be supported entirely by the truck without any portions thereof engaging the ground during loading operations. This figure shows the skids IB'and ll retracted by mechanism described in detail below so that the entire loading device, the base frame only of which is shown in Figure 11, may be bodily carried by the truck.

The base frame l4 also includes a central reinforcing cross member M (Figure and a pair of cross members 45 (Figure 6) for supporting a power unit shown as an internal combustion enginet'i, a gear box 48 for driving a winch drum 49 (Figure 5) and a changegear box 5| (Figure 1) for driving the load carrying conveyor as described below.

The vertical frame l8 has the side channel member 28 thereof suitably braced by an intermediate cross member 56 (Figure 5) and X bracing members 57, the cross member 56 being sulficiently low to provide clearance for the return run of the conveyor chains 58 and load carrying devices 59 which return through the vertical frame It as shown in Figure 1. The upper ends of the side channel members 28 of the vertical frame are also held rigidly in position by the bracing of the inclined frame [9, the upper end of the inclined frame 19 being secured to the channel members 28 by gusset plates 22 (Figure 1). As shown in Figure 6, the inclined frame i9 is constructed of side channel members 6! connected together by cross members 82, 63 and 6 3 and also by angle bracing members 66. The cross members 62, 63 and 64 provide supports for steel channel members 61 which are suitably secured to the cross members and form tracks for rollers supporting the load carrying members as described below.

The boom 23 is also constructed of side channel members 68 connected together by cross members 69, '19 and H and is braced with angle bracing members '12. The boom is provided with central stiffening plates 13 (Figure 1) to which the boom supporting members 24 are pivoted and with end bearing plates I4 in which are secured the ends of a sprocket shaft 16. The sprocket shaft 16 has a pair of sprockets 1'! (Figure 6) journalled thereon and is also enclosed in a spacer 18 which assists in bracing the free end 29 of the boom. The side members 68 of the boom are secured to bearing plates 19 at their other ends, the bearing plates being journalled (Figure 5) upon a central sprocket shaft 8| to provide for raising and lowering the boom. The cross members 69, I0 and H (Figure 6) provide support for a pair of steel channel members 82 which are in alignment with the similar channel members 61 secured to the inclined frame 19, the channel members 82 forming a continuation of the track for the conveyor.

As stated above, the conveyor includes two chains 58 and has its upper run supported upon the inclined frame l9 and the boom 23, Figure l. The conveyor chains 58 run over idler sprockets 83 journalled on the shaft 8| which is in turn journalled in bearing members 84 (Figure 5) carried by the channels 28 forming part of the vertical frame 18. The shaft 8! is enclosed in a spacer member 85 which assists in bracing the upper end of the vertical frame H3. The chains also run on the idler sprockets 11 journalled on the shaft 16 carried by the free end 29 of the boom 23 and also run on adjustable idler sprockets' 86 journalled on a shaft 81 adjustably supported in crossheads 88 carried by the base frame M as is hereafter more fully described. The lower run of the conveyor chains '58 also engage drive sprockets 89 secured to short shafts 9| journalled in bearing brackets 93 (Figure 5) secured to the channels 28 forming part of the vertical frame [8. The shafts 9| carrying the drive sprockets 89 are driven through sprockets 96 (Figure 1) secured to the shafts 9|. The sprockets 96 are driven by chains 91 also engaging sprockets 98 fixed on the shaft 8i upon which the idler sprockets 83 are journalled. The shaft 8! is driven by a worm and worm gear mechanism 98, the details of which are not shown, it being understood that there is a worm gear (not shown) secured to the shaft 8| which meshes with a worm (not shown) secured to one end of a drive shaft 99 extending downwardly to the change gear box 5! forming part of the power unit including the internal combustion engine 41. It will be understood that the sprockets 89 are driven in a counterclockwise direction in Figure 1 from the engine 47 through the shaft 99,,worm geardevice 98', shaft 8|, sprockets, 98, chains 91, sprockets 96 and shafts 9| to cause the lower runs of the conveyor chains 58 to move to the left in Figure 1 and the upper runs of the chains 58 to move to the right.

The upper runs of the chains 58 are supported by the load carriers 59 so as to be held out of contact with the inclined frame l9 and the boom 23. The lower runs of the chains 58 in turn support the load carriers" 59. The details of the load carriers are more clearly shown in thereof and to the side port-ions 'IIIZ "and side standards 3 HM. As shownin Figure S', the side standards I 04 terminate at -tlieir 'ioWerendsi-n widened portions H36 which are secured to eross members- M1. Stub shafts MSCa'IfrYing antifriction; preferably ball, bearings 4 09 areeeetree 'in the ends of the cross members I =Il 'I, '=the '6uter membersoftheanti fri'otionf be-aiin 'gsibei'ng employe'd as rollers running in the interior-10fthe steel channel members- 82 'of -the"boom i3 and also the steer-channel members 151 of the' in clined frame If). The lower {side of the F steel channels thusprovide ,a tlack for the anti friction bearings H39 and the upper-side of-the channels prevent upward'move'ment of the bearings I09 so as to hold the-loadbarrying members '59 substantially perpendicular to the channels.

Figures 7'to 10, inclusive, also-showhowthe chains-58 may be attached to the load carriersto enable the load carriers to travel around the various sprockets while still supportin the chains ontheir upperruns and being supp'orted byi the chainsbn'th'eir lower runs. Aqockerinember I II provided with an upstanding threadedstud I I 2 maybe pivotally connected to the side-standard'of'aload'carrier at II3. An anglemember '"IIdma'y havean aperturein'one arm thereof received on the stud H2 and havef'its other-arm welded to'a link i I I6 or the chain 58, The angle member "I I4 is locked on'th'e stud IIZbY-aniit The load carrier is also provided with a rocker member 'I i8 pivoted thereto at -I [8 and provided with a laterally extending "stud *Ih'e stud I2I is'rec'eived zinasiotte'dmember-IH welded to another link-I23 of the 'chain 58. The "chainihassufiicient lateralrigidity-tohold he stud I2I in the slotted member 122 althoi-i'gh the chain 'm'ay be *easi-ly released from the "load carriers by'r'nerely removing the nut I I1 f-ro'in theistud I I2 "and lifting the angle mmb1 '||f4 off the stud. Thechain may then be moved =-latera1ly todisengage the stud I2 I from the slotted member "I 22. The pivoted chain connectors able'the distance between "the'ends {of spaced links of the chain toyary when-the chain'trav- J els around .a sprocket while the cross members of -the-load-carriers'form chords of the sprocket.

It will be apparent that raising and lowering the boom 23willtend to shorten or lengthen the chains taut, the shaft 81 uponwhich the lower sprockets- 8B are journalledare'mounted in crossheads 88 (Figure l) slidablein ways I24 secured toguss'et plate 2I which joinsithe inclined frame IB'anjd the base 'fra'm'e It, thisjgusset pl'ate be- "ing spaced from the side channel beams 38 forming th'e'side members of the base'frame I4 and being secured to an attaching plate I26 in turn-secured to the channelflbe'am's 38. The-crossheads'wma beurged downwardly in -Figujr'e 1 I by me'ansl'of springs" I2? having one end adjustalbly secured to brackets I28 in turn secured to the channel b'eam-s 6 1 forming part of the inclinedtframe I9. The springs I21 each havethei'r le'ver' {285 i j "being pivoted at HS'to 'brackets' lfls ed toa side channelfifl of the base frame ld. li-n k I32 connects each bell crank lever "I132 igvith its crosshea'd 188, "the links being pivoted' at Q $33 to the crossheads and at f? I 34' to the *'belllcrank' levers I 28 It be apparent that the springs i I127 acting through the bell crank-levers I28? links I32 "andbrossheads 88 resiliently urge the r shaft "=81 carrying the pulleys 86 ina downward-direction inFige ure 1 "to tension the chains -"58 while "enabling the boom-to be" raised and lo'wered.

The mechanism I for raising and lowering the boom= 23'" is most-clearly shown in Figures 1 and '5. Asrshown inth'ese figurespthe shaft 31 carry.- ing'drumsfifi has-one end journal'led in a bracket I36 "secured to' the F reinforcing -plate -39 in "turn secured to a side channel beamyea :of the base frame-I14. The OthEInGI'ld of the-shaft fi'lis journailed in a bracket I-3'I" sec.1 1redto a reinforcing plate-39 on the opposite side of the base frame i'fi and carries a gear I 38 meshin with :a pinion 13!. formin -partof a-zcomnoundee r iou nall d 101". a stub" shaft I {II supported by the bracket I31. The compound-gearincludes a large gear f I 42seouredto-the pinion Itilpthegear I-42- meshing with a pinion I43 -,ca-rried by a-crank-IM alsr journalled. the bracket I31. It will'be appar ent'that rotation ofthe-crank M4 will rotate the shaft Bland-drumstfi through 'aw ear tr-ainpror viding a large gear reduction. Rotation of the dru -3 13 6 '9 :=i 9 T th -119 en o the su orting. nu e 4 fo t e b om throu e able I w ai e r p the boom 23. The drums 35 may be'zlocked in any desired position tozprevent downward'rnovement of the boom 23 ;forlenarnp 1e, by-a'pawl (not shown) engaging the teeth of pinion I43, I

The base-frame I 4 may have an extension I46 (Figures land a) providing a loading shelf ex tending fromthe-left end of the'fdevicein Figure 1. This loadin shel-f maytake the form of-ja U-shapedchannel "memberhaving its ends "attached to the side channel members 38 of the base frame I4. Thef load i'ng shelf HIS/preferably has asl-ight inclihation downwardly toward the inclined frame I9 vso that material place'don the loadingtshelf will tend-to ion or slide downwardly and'be pickedup-by the load carryingmembers 159. The load carrying membersillustrated are particularly adaptable for elongated objects such as logs although-other shaped membersjmay be loadedby thedevice of the-present invention'the form of the load carrying members-being altered if n-ecessary.-lt will nbe apparent that logs or other-articlesto be loaded will be carried up; along the inclined -fram e I-9 and pver theboom 23 tobe deposited upon a truck platform or other elevated member and that the ends of the articles being loaded will engage the steel channel rnernbers 5E] and 82 soas to be maintained out-of contact with the tru r l el ment i e cunth s an r rm I 9 and boom -23. enables all of the structural elements of the loading device with -the :exeeptionof" the steel channehmernbersand ;t-he drive mart-s such as the sprockets, chains, roller bearings, and the I shafts" to be fabricated of a minum or' aluminum .alloy so that the entire loading device may --be ofrelatively light weight.

As' discussed above with reference {to "Figure -'.111

Ethe light weightof -.the-.device zenables ether entire loading mechanism to ibexfasten'edito the ibody or 'lpia-tform 4-2 of ta truck andtrthe skids llfiiahd I? to beiretracte'd'so thatithe entiieiloading m'e'ch'a- -Dlih r T nd se ured to 11. larmiof a %bel lr nk nism is carried by the truck. Under'lthse 'condi tions, the truck may bedriven from lace to place while being loaded; Widely scattered logs of pulpwood may be gathered; and loaded on the truck without the necessity of manually piling the logs on the truck. Where the truck can not be brought close to heavy, pulpwood logs, the winch drum 49 positioned below the base frame Mand driven irom'the engine 41 through the speed reducing gear box 48 may be employed to drag such logs to the loader. It will be apparent that a cable or rope may be looped around the winch drum. and have one end attached'to'a pulpwood log by any suitable attaching means and be employed to draw the logs to the loading position. The winch drum 49 can, of course, be employed either when the loading device is attached to a truck or when it is supported upon the skids l6 and 11. I

The mechanism for retracting the front skids 16 is most clearly shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The skids 1B are pivotally secured at M! to standards 148 which are hinged at 149 to members 15! secured to and depending irom'the base frame l4. Bracing members 152 each have theirlo-wer ends pivoted at 153 to a skid l6 and their upper ends pivoted to a crosshead i 1. As shown more clearly in Figure 4, the crossheads I54 are slidable in channels I56 secured to the lower surface of the base frame 14 and have a threaded bore engaging threaded rods or worms I57. The

worms 157 extend transversely of the base frame l4 and are 'journalled in the members 15!. The worms receive removable handcranks- I58 enabling independent rotation of the worms. Rotation of the worms i5? so as to move the crossheads I54 outwardly toward? the sides of the base frame 14 will retract the skids 16 into the position shown in Figure 3 and it is apparent that reverse rotation of the Worms I 36 will again move the skids 15 to the position shown in Figure 2.

The mechanism for retracting therear skids i'lis shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 11. The skids'il are pivotally connected at 159 to one end of supports I61 which have their other ends pivotally connected at 162 to brackets Hi3 secured to the side members of the loading shelf 1-46. The skids 11 are also pivotally connected at Hi l to supporting members use which are slidably secured in brackets 16'! secured to the side channel members 38 of the base frame I 4 and to the attaching platelZB. The'supporting members 166 are provided with apertures I58 for receiving a pin I6 9 which also extendsthrough apertures in the bracket N31. The pins I59 may be removed, the skids ll elevated from the positionshown in Figure 1 to theposition shown inFigure 11 and the pins reinserted to hold the skids in elevated position, s

It will be apparent that I have provided a loading device which can be constructed of lightweight metal so as to be easily moved from place to place or carried b'y'a truck while loading the same and which incorporates a chain conveyor movable over an adjustable boom for elevating and'distributing articles or 'material to be loaded.

The conveyor does not, however, engage the lightweight metal of the structural elements of the loader but runs on anti-friction bearings engaging tracks of wear resisting metal which also support the material being loaded. The loader is provided with a'self contained power unit and also .has provision for pulling objects such-as logs to the loading device which can be employed when the. loader is either self-supported or mounted on a vehicle; V

- It is to be understood that although I have disclosed my device as constructed principally of aluminum or aluminum alloy shapes I contemplate that other metals of low density, such for instance as magnesium, may be used. Accordingly, where the claims refer to a lightweight metal it is intended to cover any such metals of low density.

While I have disclosed the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the details thereof may be varied within the scope of the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a loading device, a lightweight metal frame providing a support for a power unit and having a base frame portion and an upwardly extending portion providing an inclined portion, a boom having one end pivotally secured to the upper end of said upwardly extending portion to provide for raising and lowering said boom, a conveyor having endless conveyor elements and providing an upper run extending over said inclined portion and said boom and a lower run returning through the upwardly extending portion of said frame, drive means for driving said conveyor elements from said power unit, and means for raising and lowering said boom, said devicebeing provided with retractable supporting members for supporting said frame, one end of said base frame portion having horizontally extending portions engageable with and releasably attachable to rearwardly extending portions of a truck body to enable said device to be carried by said truck'during operation of said device and when said supporting members are retracted.

2. In a loading device, a lightweight metal frame providing a support for a power unit and having a base frame portion and an upwardly extending portion providing an inclined portion, a boom having one end pivotally secured to the upper end of said upwardly extending portion to provide for raising and lowering said boom, an endless conveyor having an upper run extending over said inclined portion and said boom and a lower run returning through the upwardly extending portion of said frame, drive means for driving said conveyor from said power unit and means for raising and lowering said boom, one end of said base frame portion extending horizontally forwardly below said boom and beyond said upwardly extendin portion, said extending portion having an unobstructed upper surface whereby it may be releasably attached to the undersides of rearwardly extending elements of a truck body to enable said device to be carried by said truck during operation of said device.

JAMES R. CLARK.

REFERENCES CITED The iollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

